Motor Behavior Lab

Dr. King earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Concordia University in Chicago, where he balanced academics with Division III football. After graduation, he delved into professional roles as a performance specialist and later transitioned to fitness management. Seeking a new direction, he pursued graduate studies, earning both his master of science and doctorate from Pennsylvania State University, eventually joining Truman State University in Missouri as faculty in its Exercise and Health Sciences Department.

Outside of his academic endeavors, he enjoys nature, though he avoids the intense Texas heat. Mountain biking is his favored pastime, although he jokingly admits to staying grounded on his rides. Hiking with his wife and dog is another cherished activity, although he acknowledges his wife’s tennis prowess, often ending in her victory.

He holds a profound appreciation for “Shawshank Redemption,” particularly resonating with Morgan Freeman’s memorable line, “Get busy living or get busy dying.” When it comes to desserts, warm brownies with vanilla ice cream are his ultimate indulgence, while the combination of peanut butter and chocolate remains a guilty pleasure.

Hometown: "Sabzevar, Iran" - Iran, known for its rich and ancient history, is a culturally diverse country characterized by a profound heritage of art, literature, architecture, and strong traditions rooted in Persian culture and Zoroastrianism.

Background Interest in Kinesiology: My interest in Kinesiology began with an assessment and rehabilitation of mobility problems in various neuro-musculo-skeletal pathologies and the aged. This fascination with human movement and the science behind physical activity and health has evolved over time, leading me to pursue a Ph.D. in this field. My journey in Kinesiology has been driven by a desire to understand and improve quality of life through movement and rehabilitation.

Research Interest: My research primarily focuses on Interlimb Coordination in older adults and neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease during walking. Additionally, I am deeply involved in studying Cross-education and fatigue. These areas are critical in understanding and improving the motor functions and overall well-being of individuals with such conditions.

Favorite Movie (and why): "Scent of a Woman" - My favorite movie is 'Scent of a Woman' because of its compelling storytelling and Al Pacino's remarkable performance. The movie's exploration of complex themes, such as integrity and personal growth, deeply resonates with me. It's not just a film but a journey that inspires and provokes thought, aligning with my own values and perspectives.

Favorite Dessert: Classic Italian tiramisu”.

Guilty Pleasure: indulging in music and swimming. Music provides me a serene escape and rejuvenates my mind, while swimming is not just a physical activity but also a source of relaxation and personal satisfaction. Both these activities offer a delightful contrast to my academic pursuits and keep me balanced."

Hometown: Mundelein, IL

Background interest in kinesiology:With the sports and activities that I grew up in, I was often in an environment that placed a heavy emphasis on proprioception and understanding how to control my own body movements. As a gymnast, I was constantly learning to understand my own movements and how to efficiently/effectively move to achieve a certain skill such as a press-handstand or a back layout. When I transitioned into distance running, my running mechanics came into focus and were analyzed due to a personal injury I had suffered. Each of these events and time periods in my life catalyzed my interest in kinesiology, as I found myself enthralled in everything I was learning about my own biomechanics, their effects on my efficiency, and how they could be improved. 

Research interest: what fascinates you about human movement and what do you want to know more about:

I find that I’m most fascinated by how our bodies work to create the most optimum/efficient patterns of movement and how these patterns change under a variety of constraints. I would love to learn more about the identification of these optimal movement patterns (specifically in relation to running mechanics), how they may vary depending on an individual’s stature, and how we can train individuals to achieve an optimal pattern so they can see success within their daily life or athletic careers. 

Favorite Movie: My favorite movie must be The Princess Bride. The Princess Bride is an all-encompassing film with something for everyone, and the writing of the film is incredibly witty. It has some of the most quotable lines, so much so that they’re something my family and I quote to each other almost every day. 

Favorite ice cream/dessert: Brownies

Guilty pleasure:  On a sick or down day my guilty pleasure is.... binge watching mini docuseries on Netflix.

Hometown: Kwajalein, Marshall Islands 

Background interest in kinesiology: I grew up playing multiple sports, which sparked the passion of learning how our body moves in order to better understand how to maximize performance while minimizing the risk of injury.

Research interest:  I’m particularly interested in exploring how injuries alter movement patterns by disrupting motor control. I’m also interested in how feedback and adaptive strategies can enhance relearning during the rehabilitation process.

Favorite Movie & Why: “Top Gun Maverick” is one of my favorite movies. It’s full of action and a movie my friends and I have watched on repeat since its release.

Favorite ice cream/dessert: skillet cookies with ice cream

Guilty pleasure:  breakfast for dinner

Hometown: Plano, TX

Background interest in kinesiology: My interest in kinesiology started when I was very young and grew as I became more involved in sports. I had always pictured myself in a career that was closely associated with athletics, and as I advanced in my primary sport of gymnastics, I developed a strong appreciation for the body and its movements. Coming to college only strengthened these interests and encouraged me to pursue the field deeper. Through my studies, I became more interested in how the mind and body interact, and today I wish to make this essential relationship the foundation for my future career.

Research Interests: My sports experience facilitated an attitude of exploration when it comes to the body and its potential limits. Our body is capable of amazing things, and I intend to investigate it fully. The relationship that is of especially strong interest to me is how the mind and body interact. I am currently exploring the process of learning motor skills, and what circumstances promote retention the best. I intend to analyze this behavior in fine motor skills specifically, and both its physical and psychological elements. My goal is to provide information that is helpful for athletes in a practice setting but also has relevant clinical application when it comes to rehabilitation and neurodegenerative diseases.

Favorite Movie: Forrest Gump, It is so funny and wholesome. It is impossible to not love Forrest.

Favorite dessert: Cookie dough ice cream

Guilty pleasure: Muffins (any kind, really)

Hometown: Plano, Texas

Background interest in kinesiology: I became interested in kinesiology because I have played sports my whole life and wanted to dive deeper into how the body functions and study the interconnectedness of the body.

Research Interest: I am interested in studying how individuals move to find ways to reduce injury and produce more efficient movements. Similarly, I am interested in research related to efficient rehab techniques and evaluating how the body relearns certain movements as a result of injury. 

Favorite Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy 2

Favorite Ice Cream/Desert: Carrot Cake 

Guilty Pleasure: Chips and Salsa 

Hometown: Frisco, TX 

Background interest in kinesiology: I grew up playing sports and developing a passion for them and exercise. My 2 favorites are baseball and football. At TCU, I have spent my time as a student learning how the human body moves, operates, and how we can apply this knowledge to movement in order to improve health and performance.

Research interest: I am particularly interested in how differential learning techniques are used within the rehab setting of physical therapy. As well as discovery if differential learning has any advantages over other training techniques within physical therapy.

Favorite Movie & Why: Shawshank Redemption. It is a great movie that shows how important friendship, consistency, and hope are.

Favorite ice cream/dessert: Chocolate Reese’s Ice Cream

Guilty pleasure: Watching movies instead of studying

Hometown: Bosanska Krupa, Bosnia and Herzegovina 

Background Interest in kinesiology: I was involved in multiple sports throughout my life and developed a great passion for understanding how the human body moves and adapts for better mechanics for optimal performance.

Research Interests: I am particularly interested in analyzing movement patterns and refining mechanics to enhance performance. Additionally, I am keen on learning rehabilitation techniques and understanding how the body adapts to relearn movements following an injury.

Favorite Movie & Why: “Interstellar” is one of my all-time favorite movies, it’s captivating in every sense and gets better with each rewatch.

Favorite dessert: “Oblatne”, a Serbian chocolate wafer.

Guilty pleasure: Chips and queso

Studying how balance is affected by factors like age and injuries can help lower the risk of falls and improve rehabilitation methods. 

• Balance in Children with Cochlear Implants: Because the vestibular system is crucial for balance, it’s essential to know how children with hearing devices, like cochlear implants, maintain their posture. This study aims to explore how different levels of hearing loss affect static and dynamic balance in children with and without normal hearing. Balance is assessed using three methods: the BOT-2 test, Y-balance test and standing balance measured by a force plate.
• Postural Control with Feedback: Manipulating what you see can change how you control your posture. This study looks at a new feedback system designed to offer more personalized postural control training. We're testing its reliability and effectiveness, measuring different aspects of postural control in both still and moving positions. The goal is to eventually use this system to help treat lower body injuries.

Understanding the underlying mechanism of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and how exercise reduces motor impairments is essential to helping those living with Parkinson’s have a better quality of life.

• Punching Out Parkinson’s: Exercise is proven to help slow down the progression of PD. However, we need to understand more about what types of exercise and programs are most beneficial for people with PD. In this study, we’re monitoring how people with PD improve over time while participating in a non-contact boxing exercise program each week. We’re looking at various aspects of their health, including breathing, movement, balance and how their nervous system controls their muscles.
• Walking Mechanics of Older Adults and People Living with Parkinson’s Disease: It’s important for people with PD to stay independent as the disease progresses, especially since they will often face mobility and walking issues. So, spotting early signs of motor problems in how they walk can really help, allowing for specific rehabilitation treatments to be used when they're needed most.

Motor learning affects how people both learn new skills and re-learn them after injury. Various methods are used in motor learning settings and our aim is to figure out what factors make learning skills most effective.

• Differential Learning: This is a training method that doesn’t rely on repeating the same movements over and over. Instead, it uses different variations to help people learn better movement patterns. We’re using this approach with the standing broad jump task and looking into other ways it can be used with different motor skills.